America’s newest darling: Chloe Kim
The BONGPYEONG, SOUTH KOREA gold medal had been secured, the desire to eat a breakfast sandwich had been conveyed to the world, and the starburst had been completed. She stood at the top of Olympic halfpipe and had only one thing left to do, the most peaceful thing in a 17-year-old life about to be upended. Chloe Kim had to perform.
For competitive purposes, the final run Kim took meant nothing. For artistic and athletic value, it carried historic weight. It stamped her, even at the start of her career, as a groundbreaker, one of the most talented snowboarders in the sport’s history. It begged other girls to join her: Look at what you can do when you strap a high-tech plank to your feet.
The coronation of a new American Olympic darling occurred here Tuesday morning. Kim entered these Olympics as an overwhelming favourite in women’s halfpipe, with many snowboard enthusiasts convinced she could have won gold four years ago, at age 13, had she not been too young to compete in Sochi. But the expectation could not diminish the thrill of watching Kim take the sport to new places.
Kim’s first run, which scored a 93.75, guaranteed her first place. She spilled in the middle of her second run. On her third run, she executed three spins on the left side of the halfpipe, whooshed up the other wall and pulled off the same trick on that side. The crowd roared: Kim had become the first female rider to land consecutive 1080s in the halfpipe at the Olympics. The run earned her a 98.25, more than eight points clear of Chinese silver medallist Liu Jiayu.
Kim, of Korean heritage and California cool, is destined to become an even bigger star. She became a prodigy under her father, Jong Jin, who was born in South Korea — a fact that enhanced her stardom here.